Dual Cultivation God Returns

Chapter 449 Eternal Inner Peace Sutra

After the meeting Wu Long approached Grand Elder Gan from the Brilliant Sun Temple.

"Thank you for the mediation before, Grand Elder Gan. Even if that served it's purposes for you and was not done for our sake, there is no denying that it was in our favor.

I also want to take this opportunity to greet you formally as a representative of the Yin Yang Unity Palace"

Wu Long spoke in a clear voice and in a friendly tone, as the delegation in yellow robes stopped and turned to him when he approached not far from the doors of the main hall of the sect, on a chilly platform carved out from the mountain, which oversaw the sect below over the railings between thick stone columns covered with ice and snow.

The light of the sun which was obscured and scattered through the low hanging clouds always covering the sky in the Eversnowing Valley creating a bleak, pale illumination through that opening on the side, as the platform was otherwise quite dark.

The other members of the Five Great Sects were passing by, throwing curious gazes to the dark silhouettes of two distinct groups which contrasted with the pale light coming from between the railings and columns behind them, but not being able to find an excuse to linger and listen in on the conversation slowly disappeared into the distance.

"Hahaha, Daoist Wu is too polite.

As you said we had our fun at your expense so you don't need to thank us...

...though you have gained a new enemy in the face of that Elder Hou...

...but it seems that you don't worry since your relation with that sect of pompous sword fanatics wasn't that good in the first place..."

The old man laughed heartily with a strong, booming voice that did not seem to belong to an elderly man at all.

Though, the only things that betrayed his age was actually his face full of wrinkles that moved as his eyes lightly squinted at the end of his words, long white eyebrows and a snow white, thin but long beard with a mustache.

His build, however, was of a man in his prime, with bulky muscles and a large, durable frame. The power hidden in that physique could be felt even from light movements, not obscured by the rather loose, oversized and baggy robes.

It was a common feature for all members of the delegation behind him as well, since the Cultivation Technique they practiced was of the Pure Yang type, coupled with the Brilliant Sun Vajra Body, an extremely powerful body tempering technique.

"Heh, it is no secret so Grand Elder Gan need no hesitation to show curiosity... we had our disagreements when I met their Grand Elder during a visit to the Profound Music Palace"

Wu Long chuckled, not missing the narrowed eyes the old man made, gauging his response to what he was saying.

"Hahaha! Bravo! hahaha, there really is no hiding anything from you Daoist Wu!"

The booming voice echoed on the platform in a loud laugh again, causing the guards at the doors of the Main Hall they left not long ago to almost jump.

The women of the Frozen Garden Palace fit quite poorly with the members of the Brilliant Sun Temple as their sects were in many ways the opposites, so the frowns that appeared on the delicate faces of Sect Protectors right after were nothing unexpected.

"Ehem, ah, allow me to introduce, this is our sect's Prime Disciple, Beng Mao"

As he noticed the effect his loud laughter had, he lightly cleared his throat, covering it with his fist. After which he seemed to remember something, and half-turned, beckoning a young-looking man with almost as impressive of a build to come forward, and quite roughly patting him on the shoulder as he did.

"Greetings, Daoist Wu. I have heard a lot about you, it is a pleasure to finally put a face to the famous name"

The young man called Beng Mao cupped his fist in a formal way for a greeting as Wu Long smiled and mirrored the actions.

"You flatter me, Prime Disciple Beng. It is a pleasure to greet the rising star of the respectable sect"

"Hahaha, don't mind his stiff demeanor he is a little straight-laced and stubborn, but we are working on that"

Grand Elder Gan slapped the Prime Disciple's back with loud sounds, while the latter made a somewhat aggrieved expression.

"Grand Elder... isn't the virtues of a true Brilliant Sun Temple Daoist modesty and restraint? What you are saying is a bit problematic...

If the Temple Master were to hear..."

"Huh? Are ya threatening this old man with the Temple Master now young lad? Let me tell ya, no matter what that old geezer tells ya I'm not afraid of him!"

"Haha! Grand Elder, were it not you cursing like a thug after getting beaten to a pulp last month by Temple Master? Hahahaha"

"What was that? Who of you was it that said that!?"

As Grand Elder Gan was trying to intimidate the Prime Disciple, quite unsuccessfully so at that, one of the Inner Court Elders behind him made a remark that caused the entire delegation of the Brilliant Sun Temple to explode in loud and rowdy laughter that caused the Sect Protectors of the Frozen Garden Palace to make sour faces while the Grand Elder turned to the laughing people with widened eyes, causing even more laughter to return into his face.

Hua Ziyan chuckled a little at the scene while the other disciples behind her and Wu Long tried to hold in their laughs.

"Haha, while it does seem that they are quite rowdy, the ideals Prime Disciple Beng spoke of are quite true.

It is part of the Eternal Inner Peace Sutra that is practiced by the members and served as thecounterbalance of the Ultimate Yang-based cultivation techniques, which would otherwise cause too much instability in character and behavior.

It seems the Brilliant Sun Temple indeed inherited the true values of its ancestor sect, the Eternal Sun Temple"

Wu Long explained to the beauty with a smile, causing a look of astonishment to appear in the eyes of the Grand Elder while the others did not seem to recognize anything unusual from Wu Long's words, even though they did not understand the last part, only a sign of being impressed at the knowledge of their cultivation appearing on their faces.

The Ultimate Yang these Daoist Monks practiced was an entirely different approach to the Yang of a man than what Dual Cultivators practiced, as there was no harmonization of a small proportion of Yin within the Yang to soften and counterbalance.

The properties of the Yang were concentrated on the Root of Power and Root of Vitality rather than the Root of Harmony. It was also too extreme, in that all of their techniques were focused on strengthening their Yang while never releasing Yang Qi.

All of that would normally cause cultivators to be extremely unstable, exhibit extreme aggression, and have health problems mirroring the ones Sui Luxiao had but from the Yang side, however, their legacy seemed to be complete unlike the Frozen Garden Palace, as the Eternal Inner Peace Sutra was an extremely powerful mind cultivation technique that focused on the Root of Awareness and Root of Wisdom, which garnered virtues and created inner peace.

It was exactly because they hid a lot of potential for violence and aggression from their cultivation methods that they focused on virtues, severing their desires, and led an ascetic way of life, away from the mundane world.

This was why they did not falter in their convictions and cultivation even despite having many beautiful women around. Although it did require quite a lot of time to obtain that state so the sects of cultivators practicing such methods were usually very secluded and to an extent even isolated.

"Hooh, it seems the conversation with Daoist Wu warrants more than a quick chat in passing... shall we change locations?"

Grand Elder Gan's fingers started moving the praying beads as he talked, touching his long beard with the other hand in thought while his eyes narrowed with intense curiosity.

"Gladly, Grand Elder Gan.Ziyan, I would need to have a small talk, but I will be over as soon as I am done"

Wu Long turned to Hua Ziyan after confirming, who nodded, as a guide from the Frozen Garden Palace who would be escorting them to their lodgings arrived in time, leading away the disciples as the person in charge in his absence while he turned back to the old man.

"Shall we?"

"Please, Daoist Wu"

Both exchanged a polite gesture and turned to go to the lodgings of the Brilliant Sun Temple sect members were assigned. But as they did so, the doors of the Main Hall they stood not very far from opened, as Qiu Yilao walked out accompanied by Xue Bing.

"Pardon my eavesdropping, but it is hard to keep my curiosity in check with all that loud laughter...

That conversation... may I join as well?"

"... if Daoist Wu does not object..."

"Of course, who would object to the company of such a beautiful woman?"

"Hahaha! As expected of a Dual Cultivator Daoist, hahaha, then this old man has no objections either"

"Oh my, you are flattering me, Daoist Wu"

"Haha, not at all, merely observations"

"Master..."

"Hm? This... alright,you may stay, Bing'er"

"Grand Elder"

"Mm, since Palace Master Qiu is allowing their Prime Disciple to be present I suppose you can come as well"

The three exchanged words, and proceeded into the Main Hall with only Prime Disciples of both the Brilliant Sun Temple and Frozen Garden Palace following while the rest of the delegation from the former sect left with the members of the latter sect who were in the Main Hall.